Method and apparatus for accessing a telephone network from the internet

A subscriber in communication with an IP network such as the Internet, through a terminal may launch an application on a Public Switched Telecommunications Network (PSTN) by entering a data packet that takes the format of a telephone number that identifies the PSTN application. An IP gateway couples the IP network to the PSTN and serves to recognize the data packet in the format of the PSTN application telephone number as well as translate the packet yield a stream of DTMF or other signals corresponding to the PSTN application telephone number. The IP gateway then launches the stream of signals to dial the telephone number of the PSTN application. The gateway may also request information or control PSTN calls via the signaling/data channel between the gateway and the PSTN.